Morden's second annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge took place Saturday afternoon outside the Access Event Centre during the Multicultural Winterfest.

The event raised more than $23,000 from the approximately 40 jumpers who participated. Jerry Fehr was this year's top fundraiser with a total of $4,000 collected.

"I consider myself to be an athlete," said Fehr, "And to see these Special Olympians want to reach their goals, [the Polar Plunge] is something that will definitely help them get coaching and the training tools they need."

Since Fehr raised the largest sum, he received the honour of being last to jump into the water, which was barely above freezing. During last year's inaugural Polar Plunge, the thermometer read -35 degrees with the windchile. Saturday it was sunny and plus four, but Constable Scott Edwards of the Morden Police Service said the water was still cold when he jumped in.

"The event went off without a hitch," said Cst. Edwards who is also the chair of the Morden Polar Plunge Organizing Committee.

"It was great to see the amount of people out there supporting the participants. It makes the event," he said.

Edwards said he was impressed with the generosity of a small city like Morden to raise over $23,000 for this cause.

Two local Special Olympic athletes, Christine (Chrissy) Peters of Winkler and Valerie Delorme of Altona, will be competing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria in March. Both women will compete in the snowshoeing competition at the international event.